Loading and cocking mechanism for target traps



Jan. 27, 1953 J. K. LYON LOADING AND COOKING MECHANISM FOR TARGET TRAPS Filed June 25, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR. 'CJEJHN K LYON,

T'OQNE Y5 Jan. 27, 1953 J. K. LYON 2,626,596

LOADING AND COCKING MECHANISM FOR TARGET TRAPS Filed June 25, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2,

I I Ma awi *wa'k 34 4 IN V EN TOR.

t/[JHN K LYON,

19 TTOQNEYS Jan. 27, 1953 J. K. LYON LOADING AND COCKING MECHANISM FOR TARGET TRAPS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 25, 1948 IN V EN TOR. div/1w K Lvo/v,

Y E IQTTOQNEYS.

J. K. LYON 2,626,596

LOADING AND COOKING MECHANISM FOR TARGET TRAPS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 27, 1953 Filed June 23, 1948 IM E 'HIIIIII H I i 'i l ww\\wm v IN VEN TOR.

Jan. 27, 1953 J. K. LYON 2,626,596

LOADING AND COCKING MECHANISM FOR TARGET TRAPS Filed June 23, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 9o 91 Rd 12.

jil n )14 2 2&5 25 12121126, 11 315 10a IN V EN TOR.

Z'JHIV K LYON,

IQTTOQNEYS.

Jan. 27, 1953 LYON 2,626,596

LOADING AND COCKING MECHANISM FOR TARGET TRAPS Filed June 23, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 27, 1953 LOADING AND COOKING MECHANISM FOR" TARGET TRAPS John. K. Lyon, Pasadena, Calif.

Application June 23, 1948, Serial'No. 34,583

14c Claims.

'The present invention relates generally to target traps of the type used to throw a clay target into the air in trap or skeet shooting, and more particularly to automatic loading andcocking mechanisms for traps of this character.

It has long been standard practice to load and cock the trap by hand, the trap then being fired by remote control. After each firing, an att'endant immediately reloads and recocks the trap which is left in this condition until such time as the shooter signifies a desire for a target, when the trap is again fired.

Manual loading and cocking of the traps is satisfactory in operation, but it is expensive since it requires the full time of one attendant for each trap, and a good deal of the time of this attendant may be spent in waiting between loadings. In skeet shooting, two traps are required so that this game requires the full time of two attendants for thetraps alone.

Various kinds of automatically operated traps have been devised; but thesehave never gone'into extensive use. The lack of commercial exploitation may result from any one of a number of factors. One of them may be the relatively high cost of the conventional style of automatic trap. Another may be the inability of known automatic traps to operate continuously without any breakdown or impairment of function. Another cause may be the fact that the power operated trap has unsatisfactory throwing characteristics, or other characteristics which render it inferior to standard types of, manually operated traps.

In view of these circumstances, it is a general object of my invention to provide an automatic cocking mechanism for a target trap, which. is adapted to operate without supervision by an attendant.

It is also a primary object of my invention to provide an automatic loading mechanism for a target trap, which is adapted to keep the trap properly loaded at all times without supervision by an attendant.

It is also an object of my invention to provide automatic loading and cocking mechanisms for target traps which are adapted to be added to or used in connection with target traps of known design that have. b en found in actual operation to have satisfactory operating characteristics, and to. provide such mechanisms as do not undesirably alter the normal characteristics of the traps.

It is. a further. object of my invention. to pro.- vide loading and cocking mechanisms of the type referred to above which are relatively simple in 2 design 'so that they may bemanufacturedandinstalled at a relatively low cost, and yet which. are fully reliable in operation. so-that they perform continuously without supervision and without requiring a prohibitive amount of maintenance.

My invention is herein shown and describedas being applied-to a particular kind of target trap disclosed in Patent 1,663,780 issued March 27, 1928, to William Spangler on Target-Throwing Trap. This particulartarget trap may bedescribed briefly as comprising a spring-operated target throwing member which includes a swinging arm and a rotatable shaft upon whichthe arm is mounted, and av manually operable. cocking mechanism which is adapted-to set the..op.- crating spring. Upon release, the. spring. swings the throwing member in one direction to throw a target. After the target leaves the throwing arm, the spring snubs. thethrowing arm and stores within itself force whichis utilizedto restore the. arm to the loading position. During such restoration, thespring-svvings thethrowing member in the opposite directionto the throwing swing to move it-toward and .past the target loading position, the travel beyond the loading position being utilized to. permit. resetting the locking element which holds the arm in loading position. Then when the arm initially swings forwardly in the direction of throwing, it moves into the loading position whereit is held until released.

It is a characteristic of this. particular trap that. thethrowingarm.hasbut asingle .restposition. Theoperating spring producesamapidreturn of the arm. to this fixedlrestposition,.which is the. position in which thetarget is loaded onto the throwing arm. The operating. spring has some tension in it, so that the parts are then in a half-cocked position; and the spring is-subsequently fully tensionedor set by, the. cooking mechanism in order to prepare the trap for. the next cycle of operation.

These characteristics of operation make this trap particularly suitable for conversion to automatic operation- Furthermorathis type of trap has gone into wide, commercial use showing that it is satisfactory in its throwing and operating characteristics. For these reasons, I have developed my invention with the particular view in mind of adapting it to traps. embodying. the principles of operation shown and described in the Spangler patent referred to above, and as. a result my, invention has many. details. which. are determined by the constructionof the Spangler trap. However, it willbe understoodthat my invention is not necessarily limited to-this particular tvpe of trap, for in their broader aspects the improved loading and cocking mechanisms disclosed herein can be adapted to other types of traps with appropriate modifications.

In general, the above objects and advantages of my invention have been attained by providing an automatic cocking mechanism which includes a source of power, such as an electric motor, a drive means operatively connecting the power source to a manually operable cocking mechanism, and means responsive to the movement of the target throwing member causing the drive means to actuate the cocking mechanism. The drive means may take the form of a rotatable shaft with a crank arm which is connected by a suitable connecting rod to a convenient portion of the manually operabl cocking mechanism, preferably a lever which in the ordinary trap is operated to 'reset the main operating spring. The drive means is caused to periodically actuate the cocking mechanism for a limited time, since this operation is required only after each time that a target is thrown. To accomplish this, I preferably include a single-revplution clutch between the power source and the drive means, the clutch being operated by movement of the target throwing member to be engaged for one revolution of a drive shaft after movement of the target throwing member to operate the cooking mechanism and reset the spring.

In order that the trap may be fully automatic, automatic feedin and loading mechanism is also provided. This mechanism includes a magazine holding a stack of targets in such a position that one end of the stack is adjacent a loading platform. Means are provided to advance the stack in successive steps to drop the targets one at a time onto the loading platform from which they are loaded onto the throwing arm by a reciprocating ram. Means for advancing the stack of targets and for operating the reciprocating ram are driven from the power source by the same drive means referred to above. Thus the target feeding and loading mechanisms are also operatively connected to the drive means but are operated intermittently after each throwing cycle of the target throwing member by means responsive to the movement of the target throwing member.

How the above objects and advantages of my invention, as well as others not specifically mentioned herein, are attained will be more readily understood by reference to the following description and to the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a target throwing trap showing the application thereto of my invention, the trap being loaded ready to throw a target;

Fig. 2 is a combined vertical section and side elevation on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a combined vertical section and side elevation on line 33 of Fig. 1, looking at the opposite side of the trap from Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a median vertical section of the target magazine and a front elevation of the loading platform, showing also the single-revolution clutch connecting the drive shaft to the power source, taken on line i4 of Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical end elevation of the target magazine and stack advancing means taken on line 55 of Fi 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line es of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section and plan, similar to Fig. 6, showing a modified form of indexing rack for controlling the advancement of a stack of targets;

8 is a vertical transverse section through the variational indexing rack on line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentaryhorizontal section and plan view on line 9-9 of Fig. 2 showing the main operating spring and the cooking lever in halfcocked position, and also showing the drive means and the means for engaging the single-revolution clutch by movement of the target throwing member;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view like Fig. 9 but showing the position of certain of the parts at the end of the overtravel of the throwing arm;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, semi-diagrammatic side elevation corresponding generally to Fig. 2

but with certain parts positioned as in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section through the single-revolution clutch taken on line l2l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a combined elevation and section similar to Fig. 3, but with certain parts omitted and others in the positions occupied during the operations of cooking and loading a target onto the throwing arm;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the loading platform and throwing arm only, showing a target being loaded as in Fig. 13 and taken on line i4i4 of that figure;

Figs. 15 and 16 are fragmentary plan views of the latch mechanism for holding and releasing the target throwing arm, taken on line l5-l 5 in Fig. 13, in different positions;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary section and plan similar to Fig. 9 but showing a variational form of clutch actuating mechanism; and

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary, semi-diagrammatic side elevation, similar to Fig. 11, showing the variational form of clutch actuating mechanism of Fig. 17.

Referring now to the drawings, I shall describe the application of my invention to a target throwing trap of conventional design. In order that the disclosure may be clarified, I shall first describe a conventional target trap of the type disclosed in the Spangler Patent 1,663,780. The trap illustrated herein differs in certain minor details of construction from that disclosed in the patent, but the principle of operation is the same; and the patent may be referred tofor a more detailed discussion thereof.

The target trap itself is most comprehensively shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and in general comprises base plate I 0, a frame I I mounted upon the base, a throwing member [2 pivotally mounted on frame II, and spring M for operating the throwing member. Base plate It] is here shown as being attached to the foundation framework I5 which supports the other mechanisms of my invention in a fixed relationship to the trap.

Base plate [0 is preferably formed with an upstanding web IB. Frame II has a similar depending web i! by which the frame is mounted upon the base. The two webs are pivotally interconnected by a bolt or cap screw I8, and also by a clamping bolt or cap screw at L). By this arrangement, frame II can be adjusted to a limited extent about a transverse horizontal axis at IS in order to change the vertical angle at which the target is thrown into the air. The parts are held clamped in adjusted position by tightening cap screw l9.

It 'is ordinarily unnecessaryto provideethe train with means for: adjusting-itabout :avertical. axis since=it issatisfactory tdmaintain it .in afixed position; However; should' it lee-desirable to obtainhorizontal orientation of the trap, it-is withinth'e scope of my invention to mount the .trap and its-cooperating mechanisms upon a..pivoted base permitting-adjustment"about :averticalaxis.

Frame 1! lis: in the form of an open rectangle and comprises upper and lower parallel. frame bars and 2I-l respectively which are joined. at their ends bytwo upwardly extending end Imembers 22'.. Thetarget. throwing member [2.11s r0- .tatably mounted upon. frame H. The. target throwing inember.:comprisesupwardly; extending shaft. which is :journaled in frame. bars 2.0..and 2 I, a swingingrarm; which; is fastened; to. the upper end of? shaft; 2a. to. turn therewith, and other attached parts. was: described: later; Aszmay be seenin' Figs. l3.and;.14, armlBhas a. flat upper. surface; and is provided along one. side with; guide railidspaced slightly abovegthesurface of. thearm. Fail. 25. preferably hasza; resilient; facing 2611.

In the following description, theend. of the trap-toward which shaft .14 is located is. referred to as the forward. end because the target is thrown away from that side. Suchrelative directions :as. forward orbackward thus refer to di rections toward or-away from the rightehandside of the trap as viewedinFig. 3;

Immediately underneath upper. frame bar 20, there. is: located on. shaft 24 arm 38! which is rigidly attached to shaft 24 by a. pin or. other similar means. At the. outer: end of arm 3 is crank pin 3! to which the main. operatingspring M is. connectedby means of I-bolt. The other end of springv is is connected by ashort link. to pin .3 6 carried on the; outer. end of arm 3!, as seenin Fig. 9. Arm 3'! is pivotally mountedto lower. frame bar. 2-5. by pivotpin lil.

Also'pivotally mounted onpinxill is a. second lever" arm. 4! which. 18; disposed immediately beneath armtl' and extends outwardlybeyondxpin 35 onthe end of arm 37, as shown in Fig. 9 particularly; Arm 4! is the cocking lever and a part of the cocking mechanism. Lever 4! is adapted upon rearward movement to move arm 31' in; the same directionztoextend or set spring It; To. effect this movement of spring arm 31, the arm. carries. a. downwardly extending fixed abutment are, which is. preferably'prnvidedwith azset screw in ordertooldtairradjustment .of the stroke; Aszma'y be. seenmlearlyfrom. Figs; 3 and 9, rearward movement lzofi lever.- l l engagesxahutment'sfi; orrtheset screw carried thereby, to .push spring; arm 3?. rearwardly' with. it; However spring armv 3?. is freeto move rearwardly independently of arm. ll just as. lever 41. is free to move. forwardly independently of spring" arm 3.1..

Thus the connectionbetween these two arms affordedby abutmentptil; may be described as, acnewayconnectioni The. remainder of the cocking mechanism attached to cocking "lever. l l comprises. aforwardly extending connecting rod-42 which is. fastened to the outer end of arm ll and also to'zthe'upper end of lever 43. Lever 6.3. is mountedcn one end'of horizontally extending.rock-shafted which isrotatably mounted in a pedestal bearing on base plate i6. On the other end of shaftfl lis ahandie 45, a portion of which .isgshownin Fig: 1,.by means of which. shaft Ml can bexmanually rocked. Tension spring so attached to' base In and; arm

4.3 normally .keepsithe cock ing.Jmechanism:v in-the position showni. Handle. 45 is; preferably relatively long-t irr orderv to afford the operator. sufficient leverage to set the operating spring.

When the .cockinglever M moves-rearwardly in unison. with spring arm 31, thespring arm. moves tothe dot-dash position shown :in Fig. 9 str.etch ing spring M- as the forward endv is stationary; and it .is necessary that the spring arm beheld in this rearward position in order to hold spring is underzt'he desired degree. of tension. Spring arms! is maintained in this rearwardposition by latch bar 47 which is attached. at its rearward end to spring arm: 37 by means of pin Ma. The forward end ofbardl passes through a slotin guide. 22 a..pr.oj ecting from onesideof the forward frame, member 22i. Thatop ofthe slotxis. closed by: plate; 22b. As shown: in. Fi 2, the. guide; is provided with-a. b-allAt whichgiszpressed upwardly byspring 49,.againstthe undersideof bard?! so thatthetop surface of the, bar normally rides against plate. 22b. at the. top of the slot inv the guide. The forward. end of. latch. d! is notched so that whenthe rod is viewed in profile, as in Fig. 2, there is seen a forwardly facin shoulder 55 When the latch rod is retracted by the rearward movement of spring arm 37, the pressure of spring 49 and ball 48 against the under side of the rod moves shoulder 5t into engagement with the rear face of. guide plate 221), thusretaining the spring. arm in the rearward position with spring Hi under full tension.

Latch bar 41 is depressed against spring 49 to disengage shoulder 53 from guide 22a by a short pin 52 on one end ofshaf-t 53 passing horizontal- 1y through frame I I. At the other end, shaft 53 is bent to form arm 5d, see Fig. 3 or 13, which is in a position to be-engaged by cam 36a which is an extensionof' arm 36 (-see Fig. 9). As shaft 24 rotates clockwise when viewed from above,,cam Sea engages arm 54 and rotates shaft 53 to press pin 52 against latch bar 41. The reverse movement of cam 39a merely lifts pin 52 off the latch bar. The effect of this action is described later.

When spring Ill is under tension, it will be seen from Fig. 9 that the pull of the spring on pin 3.! and arm 30 tends to rotate shaft 2% in a counterclockwise direction, viewed from above. This tendency to rotatethe target throwing member is restrained until the proper time by means of a latch mechanism carried on frame bar 20 which engages pinv 56 carried on the under side of throwing arm 25. When the latch mechanism engages and holds pints, arm 25 is'held stationary in .theloadine position. shown in Figs. 1.and.2 against the,- torque imparted by spring M. This latch mechanism consists of a latch plate 51 tatably mounteduponthou-p per surface of frame bar 20, asshown particularly in Figs. 15 and 16, andprovided with a notch 51a in its periphery to receive pin 55. Free rotation of latch 57 is limited by pin55. Pin 55 is held in one positionby latch plate 5'3 when the latter is locked against rotation, and this iseiT-ected by keeper'bar 59 which is pivotallymounted at Bl! on one side of upper frame bar 2%, as shown in Fig. 3. Keeper 59 has a forwardly facing shoulder 5! which, when raised to the position of Fig. 3, engages latch plate 51- and holds the latter against rotation in response to the force. applied by pin 55. Keeper 5a is moved to this raised position by spring 58 which yields to the force applied to shoulder 5! by latch plate 57 and pin 55,.unless firing pin 62, which is slidably mounted in frame I l and which is spring-urged to af'orward positionin which-the pin projectsv beyond. the side face of'frame bar 20, is advanced to hold the rearward end of keeper 59 in the raised position of Fig. 3.

'Pin 62 can be retracted manually, or by any suitable mechanical means, as by solenoid 63. When pin 62 is retracted beyond the side face of frame bar it, the rear end of keeper is free to move down, disengaging shoulder 6| from latch plate 5?. The force exerted by pin 55 against latch plate 51 normally is sufficient to rotate the plate and depress keeper 5-9, thus releasing arm 25.

As mentioned previously, pin 62 is spring-urged toward a normally advanced position. When it is retracted to release keeper 59 and spring hi, it is held in this retracted position by engagement with vertically extending bar E54 which is pivotally mounted on the frame at its upper end and pulled rearwardly by spring 65. The lower end of bar 64 engages the side face of spring arm 3! so that at the proper time in the operation cycle of the device, the lower end of bar'64 is moved forwardly by the final part of the forward rotation of arm 37 to disengage and release firing pin 62 which then is free to move toward the advanced position, a movement which is completed as soon as the end of keeper 5% is raised clear of pin 62.

All of the mechanism which has been described so far, and which I refer to as the basic trap, is conventional and well known in its construction. Being conventional, this mechanism does not per se constitute any part of my invention but is rather the basic mechanism to which I have added other mechanisms which result in an entirely automatic target trap. It also follows that my invention is not necessarily limited to the particular details of the trap already described for the elements of my invention may be modified as necessary to adapt them to other target traps without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; but the type of trap which I have already described constitutes the basic construction upon which I prefer to add my invention, and is described herein to make a full disclosure of my invention.

In order to operate the trap automatically, there is provided a suitable power source. As typical of such sources, I show herein an electric motor Hi connected to the input shaft of the speed reducer H which delivers power to output shaft 12. A belt drive may be used, with suitable speed reduction, in place of the gear-type reducer H, or another prime mover may be used in place of motor 10. This power source is operatively connected through drive means to th target feeding and loading means and to the cooking mechanism in the manner which will be described later; but the drive means is operated only intermittently at the will of the operator and only for a sufficient length of time to move the various parts through one complete cycle of operation. In order to cause the drive means to actuate the other mechanisms in this manner, I provide means which is responsive to movement of the target throwing member for causing the drive means to operate intermittently for the necessary short periods of time. This latter means preferably takes the form of a. single-revolution clutch indicated generally at M and shown in detail in Fig.12, and its opera-ting member. I prefer to use a single-revolution clutch as this permits motor 10 and shaft '12 to revolve constantly, making full power instantly available for cocking and loading the trap and simplifymg control of the position of the parts. However, it is considered as coming within the scope of my invention to eliminate the clutch and use an intermittently active power source in which case the drive means is actuated by suitable switches closing a circuit to the motor-starter.

Clutch 14 comprises a collar 15 keyed or otherwise attached to the end of drive shaft 12 and provided with an internal bearing 16 into which extends the end of driven shaft 18 so that drive shaft 12 and driven shaft 18 are axially aligned. A driving dog 19 is slidably mounted in keyway in shaft 18. Dog 19 is normally urged toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 12, by spring 8!; and in this right-hand position dog 19 enters notch 15a in collar 15 to effect a driving relationship between shafts l2 and [8.

Cam 82 is pivotally mounted at its lower end at B3 on frame I5; and when the upper end is moved forwardly toward shaft 18 as in Fig. 12, cam 82 engages dog 19 to move it toward the left, against the action of spring 8!, to the inoperative or non-driving position illustrated in Fig. 12. When driving dog 19 is retracted as shown, shaft 18 remains stationary while shaft '12 and collar 15 are free to revolve continuously.

Cam 32 is movable toward and away from shaft 18, but is otherwise stationary. When the cam is retracted or swung away from the shaft, dog f9 moves into driving position; when cam 82 is advanced toward the shaft 18, it engages dog 19 and withdraws it to the non-driving position. Engagement of the driving dog for only a single revolution of shaft 18 is insured by providing means to move the cam to the dog-engaging position shortly after each disengagement from the driving dog incorporated as a part of the clutch operating mechanism. As shown in Figs. 4 and 11, cam 82 is pivotally mounted at 83 to frame [5 and is connected intermediate its ends to clutch operating rod 84. Tension spring 85 is attached to the bent end of operating rod 84 and also to a pin on frame I 5 so that the force exerted by this spring normally tends to pull cam 82 forwardly into engagement with driving dog 19. Thus, the normal position of the parts is the one in which the clutch is disengaged.

In order to provide further assurance that cam 82 is moved to the forward position after each retraction to release driving dog 19, the rearward end of operating rod 84 is connected by horizontally extending link 81 to rocker arm 88 which is pivoted at its lower end at 89 to frame l5, as shown in Figs. 2 and 11. Rocker arm 88 carries a horizontally extending pin 99 which is in a position to be engaged by semicircular cam 9| on the outside of a collar 9m surrounding the end of driven shaft 18 and rctating therewith. The shape of cam 9| is shown in Figs. 4 and 11, and its relationship to pin Si? in Fig. 12. In operation, after cam 82 is re tracted to allow shaft 18 to turn, the rotation of cam 9! with the shaft brings the cam into engagement with pin 90, moving the latter away from shaft 18 and, through arm 88 and link 8'! positively returning cam 82 to a position in which the cam engages the driving dog on the next revolution. This engagement again retracts dog 19 and disengages clutch 14 so that the clutch is operative to drive shaft 18 for only a single revolution of the shaft and the clutch must be reactuated at the end of each revolution in order to re-engage the clutch. Arm 88 also serves as a handle by which clutch 14 can be aces-tee f9 manually operated to initiallyset or to operate the trap, as may bedesired.

The forward end -'-of -.cam 82 preferably carries stop pin 92 -in:a position --to engagea projecting portion-of driving'dog J9 and-arrest the rotation of shaft I-8 atthe end of the revolution. Since the momentum of the drivenparts usually carries driving dog i intoengagement with. stop pin 92 at the endof each 'revolution, the motion of the parts driven by clutch M starts-and stops at, or close to, .the samepoint in the cycle.

Clutch *operating rod 84 extends forwardly along one side of frame II, and its-forward end slides freely inanopening inbracket 93 which is bolted to guide portion 22a of frame .I I. Braeket 93 guides-the for-wardendof the clutch operating rod, yet allows'the rod tomove freely longitudinally.

"I'oward its forward end, rod- 8 lcarries a fixed arm 9-5 which extends at approximately right angles/to the -rod=and is *so disposed as to be engaged by armG'O-GFi-gs. 9-1 1) during-the final movement of the arm-after-the throwing'member "hasbeen returned -to a-ndpast the loading position. =Swin-gin'g arm 99, as--wi11 be more fully described, acts as a cam which contacts and moves fixed arm :95, thus moving the clutch operating rod longitudinally forward. This m ovementof the rod inrespense-to movement of the target "throwing member I2 of which arm 3-!) is a part, "retracts -cam -82 and causes clutch "Mto become engaged for one rotation of =-driveshaft 18.

Drive shaft "18' is 'journaled in bearing 95 mounted in post 9Iwhich comprises'a part of the general framework I5. Shaft '18 carries crank"98 *whichis "provided atits outer endwith crank-pin 99. 'Pivotallyconn'ected to erankpin 99, are two connecting rods, one of which is articulated and the other "rigid.

The articulated connecting rod-compri-ses bar IOU-"which is'connected by pin 'I'Il'I to a "pair of links'IiIZ that 'areco'nnected at their other ends to pin I03. Pin I93 also interconnects the ends of crank arm 43 and "connecting rod t2, thus forming a common pivotal'interconnection for all three'p'arts. As shown in Figs. 3 andl3, links I02 are preferably provided with slots through which pin IOI passes in order'that links III-2 may move longitudinally rearwardly with respect to bar-I as is the case when the trap is manually operated by means of handle "45. Lever "Atrotates counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. ':3,'an'd links I02 move with respect'to bar IUII "because pin I'III remains stationary and slides within the slots in the links,'thus allowingmanual operation of the trap at any time without requiring disconnection or any alteration in "the power drive means.

Section I90 of'the connectingrod is preferably made with a threaded section and a lock nut in order that it may beproperly adjusted as "to length between pins '99 and IQI, thus accommodating the connecting rodto any differences in the spaeingbetween the center line of shaft 78 andpin H33. This feature is of particular assistance where this mechanism for operating the cocking lever is added to a trap which is already installed, but may be eliminated in the event the trap is originally made as a power driven unit. Crank 98 and the connecting rod provided by links I88 and IE2 provide a part of the means for operatively connecting the power source to the cooking mechanism, which includes particularly cocking lever 4|. For mechanical reasonsl prefer to make the power connection to the end-of lever 43'' and the forward endiof connectingrodtZ; but it is entirely feasible to make the connection directly to the outer end of .cocking lever M by replacing the connecting pin between lever AI and rod $2 with a suitable type-of connector to which rod Hi9 can be fastened.

Also attached to crankipin '99 .isa forwardly extending push rod IM which ispivotally connected at its forward end to lever iiiipivotally mounted at Hi9 to an arm projecting upwardly from base I5. Lever I05 has connected .to its upper end operating'rod I98 which -.at.its rear end'is attached to, ram or carriage I I0. Carriage Ilil is siidably mounted upon straight-bar III whichprovides a track for the carriage to slide upon. Track EH ismounted upon bracket plate H2 which is bolted to the upper end ofpost; 91. Bracketplate IIZ-also carriesplatform II l-upon which a clay target rests beforeit is loadedonto throwing arm 25. Platform H4 is preferably provided with one or more-guards I I51to hold the target inplace on the platform. Carriage II-Ois provided with a laterally extending plate .I.IB which operates asa rear guard, and with .a rubber roller I is which engages the. target. Thercarrinse with itsrolier acts as aram to push the target from platform vI Monte swinging arm .25.:as carriage IE9 is advanced along track .III.

.Targetsare fed onto platform Ihtto the position T1 by gravityand itthasbeenfound pref erable to coverthe top of the platform :witha layer I'Ita of sponge rubber orsimilarmaterial. Whatever the surface is upon which the targets rest, this surface isarranged substantially as a continuation of but preferably slightlyabove, the surface of arm 25,;asmay be seenin Fig. 3. Throwing arm 25 ordinari-ly is inclined slightly to the horizontal, and consequently the top surface of platform I It is given the sameinclination. Track MI is arrangedparallel to but below the top surfaces of plat-form H4 and arm 725 that it moves carriage -I It parallel to these surfaces and at a slight distance above them as maybe found to best engageand move the target.

At the rear of the stroke;1carriage I I0 is to the rear of platform H4, as inFig. 1. The length of its forwardstroke can be easilyregulated by varying theproporti-ons of lever I; audit is preferable to provide a plurality of openings in the upper end of lever I05 sothatoperating rod I 08 can be connected to the lever at various pointsto obtainminorjvariations .in the length of strokeof ram H0. Roller :1 I8 is mounted on carriage IIO by bracket Itlron-thelsideaway from .rail 2B,,the roller being spaced preferably above platform], I4 sufficiently to engage theltargetat a point-above its rim. 'If desired, roller 1 I;8:may befloweredto engage the rim of the target 'l'i. .The actionof roller H8 is to push-the target against .rail 29 as the target ;is. movedlforw-ardlyyat T2 (Fig. 14) onto arm25, and thus1aids in properly:;positioning the target. Another. important aidisbracket I29 mounted on the inner :endcof :arm r2-5.in a manner to permit limitedswinging'"movementwf the bracket with respect to the arm to adj 11st to targets of different diameters. As shown-inffies. -1 and 1-4, the rearward free end oftbracket I-Z'O' is provided with a flat bowspring .IfZI .whichiissso positioned that at the extreme-forwardmovement of the target onto arm .25, the target 'is held lightly between spring I'2I an'd rail'26. :Spring I2I holds the target "at T3 in placeagainst rail 26 even though a considerable period :of time elapses between loading and firing, and :any

vibration from motor Ill or other moving parts does not dislodge the target from its proper position. Spring IZI operates to eliminate breakage of the targets at the beginning of the throwing stroke, because arm 25 has such a high rate of acceleration that, unless the target is virtually resting against rail 26 at the beginning of the throwing stroke, the impact of the rail against the target is sufficient to break the target. Consequently, it is important that the target be against rail 26 at the time that the throwing stroke commences.

Targets are fed to loading platform IIII from a substantially horizontally extending magazine indicated generally at I25. The magazine is adapted to hold a plurality of targets in a generally horizontal stack I24 with the forward end of the stack, in the direction of advancement, adjacent and slightly above the loading platform I I I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Thus, as the stack is advanced within the magazine, the targets fall from the forward end of the stack, one at a time by gravity, onto the loading platform to a position such as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Magazine I25 is supported in the position shown by suitable arrangement of structural members, including bracket I22, resting upon the structural frame I5. The magazine itself comprises a pair of parallel, horizontally extending angles I26 and I2! which each have one leg horizontal and the other leg extending upwardly to form a, channel-shaped trough into which the targets are loaded. One of the angles, in this case angle I26, is rigidly held at both ends; while the other angle, in this instance angle I21, is pivotally held at its rear end, the end more remote from the discharge end. At its forward end, angle I2! is slidably mounted with respect to its supporting framework by a bolt which passes through a slotted hole indicated at I2'Ia (Fig. 5); and tension spring I23 which has one end attached to each of angles I26 and I2'I pulls the forward ends of the two angles together. The purpose of this construction is two-fold. In the first place it adapts the magazine readily to minor differences in diametersof targets loaded into the magazine by providing a resilient or expansible means for detering the spacing between the magazine sides; and it also insures a firm contact between the targets and the magazine sides at the forward discharge end of the magazine without building up undue friction between the stack of targets and the sides of the magazine throughout their length. The minimum of frictional engagement with the stack as a whole is desirable in order to reduce the pressure upon the stack required to cause it to advance, since the frangible nature of the targets limits the pressure which can be applied.

While for various reasons given, I prefer to use a magazine as shown and just described, it is also possible to use a magazine that is other than channel-shaped, as for example semicylindrical or cylindrical. Also, I may slightly incline the magazine downwardly toward the discharge end to diminish the frictional drag of stack I24.

Means is provided for advancing the stack lengthwise thereof in the magazine by successive steps, each step being equal to the average thickness of a target in the stack. This stack advancing apparatus includes a, bar I28 extending hor zontally and parallel to the magazine in a. position just underneath it. The bar is mounted for longitudinal sliding motion in any suitable manner, but is here shown as being mounted upon axial pins I23 located in one at each end of the bar. .As shown in Fig. 6, spring I36 is placed in the central bore of bar I28 to bear agamst the forward pin I23 in order to urge bar I28 towards a normal rearward position. This rearward position is indicated at IZBa in Fig. 4.

Bar I28 is shifted longitudinally by lever I33 which is pivotally mounted. on bracket I22 at I34 to swing about a horizontal axis. The upper end of lever I33 is bifurcated to provide a 1011;. which engages pin I35 carried by a collar I3'I on the forward end of bar I28. Collar I31 is held against rotation by tension spring I I'I connected to pin I35 on the collar and a pin on lever I33, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The lower end of lever I33 has a curved cam surface I32 which is engaged by the rounded head of crank pin 99, as may be seen in Fig.4. Engagement of crank pin 99 with end I32 of lever I33 causes the lever to move in clockwise direction and advance bar I28 longitudinally. After the crank pin has disengaged the lever, spring I38 moves bar I28 in the opposite direction to the position I28a indicated in Fig. 4 by the dot-dash line.

l'his longitudinal movement of bar I28 is utilized to advance the stack of targets, and for this purpose the top face of bar I28 is provided with a series of slots forming equally spaced teeth I36 in the form of a longitudinally extending rack on the bar. A follower I38 is slidably mounted on the horizontal flanges of angles I26 and I2! to .be guided thereby, and comprises a ring I39 which presses against the rearmost target of the stack. Follower I38 has on its under side pawl I48 which is pivotally mounted on t follower and is normally urged downward by spring I4I so that the pawl engages teeth I36 on the top of bar I28. It is obvious that if bar I28 is hollow teeth I36 can be formed by notching the side wall of the bar.

By this arrangement, the forward movement of bar I28 brings a tooth I36 into engagement with the rear end of pawl I48 and follower I38 is thereby caused to advance with bar I28. When the reverse movement of the rack bar takes place, pawl I48 swings upwardly, compressing spring MI, so that the pawl passes over the next forwardly disposed tooth and drops into the space ahead of it. Thus, upon subsequent forward movement of the rack bar, follower I38 is again advanced because the pawl engages the tooth I36 next ahead of the tooth previously engaged. Pawl I48 and the toothed rack I36 comprise a one-way connection between reciprocating bar I28 and follower I38, so that continued'axial reciprocation of the bar moves the follower only in a forward direction, and this movement is by successive steps. The distance or spacing between working faces of successive teeth I36 is made equal to the thickness of an individual target occupied in the stack, so that the advance of the stack for each forward movement of the bar is equal to the thickness of one target and each forward step operates to push one target off the forward end of the magazine so that the target falls by gravity downward onto the loading platform II4.

The clay targets are of a well known and conventional design with a relatively heavy rim and a thinner web or central portion which is dished or offset axially toward one side of the rim. It is actually the thickness of this rim portion that is referred to immediately above as being the thickness of the target or the space occupied by 13 an individual target in the stack, =because the targets nest together. In manufacturing-these targets, their size is held within fairly close tolerance, but it has been found in actual experience that targets differ somewhat slightly in the thickness of the'rim. portion. Although'this difference in dimension is-not of anyconsequence for most considerations, it is sometimes ofimportance in the present invention. Magazine 25 is typically designed to hold a stack of one hundred targets. If a particular batch of targets happen-to run uniformlyo'versize in their rim dimension by .005, then the stack as a whole would be oversize by some .5", assuming one hundred targets in the stack. Theamount of this oversize is more than the thickness of a single target. It is equally possible that "a particular shipment of targets'might runundersize by a similar amount. If the spacing of teeth E6 isfixed, "based upon the average thickness of a target, such a single fixed spacing could bring about a condition in which the stack of'targets would not feed properly-from the 'end onto the loading platform. Assume a condition in which the leading target is at the forward end of the magazine-ready to'be'fed to platform H4 on'the next step advance of bar I28. If the targets were undersize, the step ofadvancement woul-d be too great, and there could beeventually a step at which twotargets would fall from the end,'and

then'a blank step at which no target would "be fed. "If the-targets wereoversize, a similar situation could oc curbut the blank-step would'precede the step feeding two targets.

-Inorder tobetter-adapt the rackbarto handle targets of varying "sizes, it is preferably constructed as-shown in Figs? and 8. In these figures "bar r28 isprovided with four separate racks'of-teeth, one oneach of four sides of the bar. Thus if teeth r30 have-theminimurn desired spacing'a as'shown in Fig. '7 between'the forward or Working faces, then the set of teeth I3 5?) may "have a slightly greater spacing shown ash in Figs? Similarly, the-third set of teeth i350 may have "a-still'greater spacing c, and a fourth setof teeth r3611, astill'larger'spacing whichcorresponds to'the' maximumsize of step whichmay'bedesired. The racksor rows of teeth 36, 5352), less, i36d, are disposed atsu'ccessive positions spaced" 90 "apart about the aXis'of bar H28, so that by rotating the through "90 or' multiplesthereof, the uppermostma'ck lfiii can berep'la'ced by another rack of different "tooth spacing. I find'it issatisfactory inpractice to provide four'diiferent tooth spacings representing incrementsof 1005" 'providingfor maximum and minimum targetthi'cknesses differing by .020. This covers adequatelythe normal size variations.

To'permit'changing the rack, the'forward'end of bari28 and collar l3! are providedwith spring detent means comprising ball'l a and spring H14 in the'stationary collar to which pin 1'35 is attached. The end "of bar I28 has a plurality'of indentations M5 "spaced 90 apart, and each aligned withpne of the-rows'of'teeth on the bar. Bari ize'b'eing rotatable'about pins [29, the spring detent holdsthe'bar in any one of'four adjusted positions with the rack'of chosen spacing'uppermost to beengaged by pawl M0. In this way the steps bywhich" the's'tack of targets are advanced can 'be adjusted so .thatthey represent a proper fraction of'the entire length of "any given stack to very closely approximate the thickness of a single target, or atleast the average'thickness. of atargetwithinth'at stack. The"forwardface of T4 th flange on the end'o'f bar 12-8 may carny ja series of identifying numbers or" the like, aspseen in Fig. 8, to aid in identifying the rowsofteeth.

Bearing in mind the foregoing-description of the construction of my improved target trap, I shall now summarize briefly its operation, starting with the operation of the basic trap-'whichis conventional in its design and construction. This sequence of description is chosen because the operation of the apparatus for feeding and -loading the targets and recocking themain operating spring are dependent upon'the operation of the basic trap and are timed to operate in response to certain motions of the 'throwingmemher.

Assuming a targettobe forward on throwing arm 25 in a position T3 where it isheld' between spring iii and rail 28 (Fig. 1), andthe'main operating spring Hi to be set under full tension,- the trap is ready to be fired. Target throwing-member i2 is now held against rotationby engagementor" pin {56 in notch "51a of latch plate fi 'l as shown in'Fig. 15. Firing is accomplished -by re traotingfiring pin'ef. This retraction is-or'dinarily done by a solenoid iid so that the trap can be released from. aposition remote from the-trap;- but pinfiil can likewise be released manually. Retraction of pin 52 starts a series of movements which combine to form acornplete cycleof operation.

When pin e2 nolongerholds up' the reanen'd of lever the pressure of latch plate -5-Ton shoulder El moves the rear end downwardly-as viewed in Figs. 3 and 13, and removes shoulder 6! from holding engagement with latchplate 5! so that the latch plate is free to rotate-clockwise, viewed from above, under the force applied bypin 55. Rotation of the latch plate to the 'full line position of Fig. 16 releases pin 58 and throwing member if rotates forwardly under thepull'of spring It to throw the target. Arm 25 moves from the loadingposit-ion shown in full lines in Fig. 1 throughmore than a half-circle to a'position in the vicinity of the dot-dash line position 25a of Fig. 1. The location of the arm at the end of the forward stroke is not critical and its exact position depends upon the strength of spring it.

During the forward swing of the throwing arm, shaft and arm as rotate counterclockwise as Viewed in Fig. 9, and about half way through the stroke pin 3! reaches'a position on a line extending between the centers'o'f 'shaft'zd and pin 30, which pin connects the rear-end of the operating spring to arm 31. At this position, the tension in spring I4 is at a minimum, and closely approximates a zero value, although'it'may not actually reach zero. As a result of this condition, the accelerating period of the stroke is ended and the arm'm'oves through the latter portion of its stroke under its own momentum. The continued rotation of arm 3'5) again places the operating spring M under tension, and the operating spring operates'to snub or deceleratethe target throwing member and bring these rotating parts to a smooth stop. Thus the operating spring not only operates to impart a high acceleration to the target throwing member to launch the target, but it also operates to decelerate the target throwing member.

In the process of deceleration, spring M is placed in tension and stores energy which is utilized to restore the target throwing memberto its initial rest position. Full-"restoration could not "be done' if it-were necessary to "extend the operating spring to the same amount as when the spring was originally fully cocked and ready for release. But it can be done by allowing the rear end of the operating spring .to move forward. This is accomplished on the return stroke of arm 25 as it moves in a clockwise direction. Shortly after the throwing arm starts its return stroke, extension 300. (Figs. 9 and 10) on arm 36 engages arm 54 and moves the free lower end of the arm upwardly in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. This causes pin 52 to depress the forward end of latch bar 47 (Fig. 2), disengaging shoulder 50 from plate 22b. Spring [4, now being under considerable tension, pulls spring arm 31 forwardly from the dot-dash position 31a of Fig. 9 to the full line position, at the same time moving latch bar 47 forwardly to the position shown.

The energy stored in spring i4 is sufficient to move throwing arm 25 on the return stroke not only to, but past, the full line loading position illustrated in Fig. 1. The momentum of the parts is sufficient to carry the arm to approximately the position 251) shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 10. The exact postion at the end of the return stroke depends upon the characteristics of spring l4, as well as the energy required to move the parts. During this return stroke, pin 3| on arm 30 has again reached and passed a position on a straight line connecting the centers of rotating shaft 24 and the rear spring pin 3%. As arm 30 swings in a clockwise direction past the point, spring [4 is again placed in tension to decelerate the arm on its return stroke and again bring it to a smooth stop.

As was the case with the arm at the end of the advance stroke at 25a, the arm immediately reverses its direction of movement under the pull of the operating spring, so that the arm does not stop for any appreciable length of time at either position 250'. or 251).

It is necessary that the throwing arm be returned beyond its loading position in order that the latch mechanism holding the arm in said position can be reset. During this final portion of the return swing beyond the loading position, which is termed the over-travel, pin 55 travels along the are indicated at I46 in Fig. 16 and again engages latch plate 51, Plate 5? is rotated counterclockwise to the dotted position to release lever 59, allowing the lever to move upwardly under the influence of spring 58 and bring shoulder 6| into the raised position where it can be again engaged by latch plate kill as it moves back to the position of Fig. 15.

As the rear end of lever 59 clears firing pin 62, the latter is released and allowed to move forwardly to its advanced position by the action of bar 64. The lower end of bar 64 is moved forwardly by its engagement with the side face of spring arm 37 as it moves into position 37 from position 37a, as described above, to cam out- 7 wardly the lower end of bar 64 so that firing pin 62 is free to advance as soon as the rear end of lever 59 has cleared it.

The latch mechanism is thus reset during the over-travel portion of the return stroke of the target throwing member. The final portion of the restoration of the throwing arm to loading position occurs as arm 25 again moves in a counterclockwise direction under the pull of spring 14, and advances from the position 2% shown in Fig. 10 to the loading position of Fig. 1 in which the arm extends generally parallel to frame bar 20. In so moving, arm 25 rotates latch 51 until 16 it engages shoulder 6|, at which time the pin 56 and arm 25 are held against further rotation. The throwing arm has now come to rest again in the loading position, ready to receive another target. I

At the end of the restoration of the throwing member to its rest position as just described, the parts occupy what is termed the half-cocked position. This means that the operating spring is under some tension, but is not capable of moving the parts through the operating cycle just described. Spring arm 31 is in the forward position as is latch bar 41, In the conventional type of trap, the parts are cooked and the spring moved to a fully set position by pulling on handle 45 so as to move lever 43 in a counterclockwise position, as viewed in Fig. 3, moving connecting rod 42 rearwardly and likewise moving cocking lever 4| to the rear. During this rearward movement, lever 4| engages the set screw in the depending lug 38 on spring arm 37 so that the spring arm is carried rearwardly from the full line position of Fig. 9 to the dot-dash line position 31a in which spring I4 is fully tensioned. The spring is then held in this extended position by latch bar 41 which has moved rearwardly along with spring arm 37 until shoulder 5i] clears the back edge of frame guide 22a and comes into engagement with plate 22?). This engagement is maintained by the upward push of ball 48 and spring 49 on the under side of latch bar 41. When handle 45 is released, parts 4|, 42 and 43 are restored to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by the pull of spring 46 on arm 43.

This actuation of the cooking mechanism is accomplished mechanically according to my invention, instead of manually. Drive shaft, 18 and crank 98 normally come to rest in approximately the position shown in Fig. 3. As they turn during the cycle of operation, crank 98 pulls connecting rod Hill and W2 moving connecting rod 42 and lever 4| rearwardly to cock the spring in the manner just described. A full cycle of operation of the drive means including shaft I8 and crank 98 results in one complete revolution of these elements; and during the first 180 of this revolution they operate to pull on connecting rod Ice and N32 to operate the cooking mechanism, including cocking lever 4|, to fully tension or set spring I4 in the manner described above, while during the second 180 of revolution, connecting rod lliii and the attached linkage are restored to the position of Fig. 3, aided by the normal pull of tension spring 46.

This cycle of operation of the cooking mechanism is initiated by engaging clutch 14 in response to movement of the throwing member during its cycle of operation. At the end of the over-travel period of the return stroke of throwing arm 25, the arm with its attached shaft 24 and arm 30 are in substantially the position shown in Fig. 10. During this over-travel the outer end of arm 30 engages arm fixed on clutch-operating rod 84, moving arm 95 forwardly from the position of Fig. 9 to the position of Fig. 10. This movement of arm 95 causes a corresponding motion of clutch-operating rod 84 which retracts cam 82 and allows driving dog 19 to move into the driving position in which it engages slot 15a in collar 15 on driving shaft 12. Engagement of clutch I4 immediately starts shaft 18 turning to operate the cooking mechanism as a result of its operative connection to the power source represented by motor Ill.

The engagement between swinging arm 30 and 1-7 fixed arm 35 is of short duration, so that arm 95 and rod 84 are quickly returned from the'position of Figs. and 11 to the position of Fig. 9 under the action of spring 85. Should spring 85 failto operate in this fashion, the parts are positively retur'ned by engagement of rotating cam SI with pin 93 which is moved outwardly away from the axis of drive shaft I8. The movement of pin 95 is transmitted through lever 33 and link 81 to rod 84 and cam 82 (Fig. 11). As a consequence, cam 32 is again in position, before one revolution of shaft I3 has been completed, to engage driving dog I9 and. move it to the nonengaging position of Fig. 12. A lug on driving dog I9 engages pin 92 to stop shaft I8 in the proper position and prevent over-travel of the shaft, thus insuring that the cycle of operation starts and stops at the same position or close thereto.

Clutch I4 is engaged to render the driving means operative after the throwing member has been returned past the loading position, or is in that portion of its movement referred to as the over-travel. This insures that the cooking mechanism will not be operated until after spring arm 31 has been released and moved forward, placing operating spring 'I 4 under reduced tension. Thus when throwing arm 2-5 returns to the loading position from its extreme over-travel, spring I4 is only partially tensioned or half-cocked. The rapidity of action of the throwing member is such that it has returned to the loading position before any appreciable movement of drive shaft I8 has occurred, and consequently the moving parts of the trap involved in the throwing operation have come to rest before the cooking mechanism is actuated by the mechanical drive means.

This same drive means including shaft'1'8 and crank 98 serves to actuate the target loading means and the means for feeding another target onto the loading platform. The former is done by operating rod I04. As crank 98 revolves, it moves r od I34 rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 13, causing lever I05 to be rotated in a clockwise direction. The forward movement of the upper end of the lever is transmitted by rod I38 to carriage IIB which slides forwardly on rail III, as illustrated in Fig. 13. As the carriage moves forward, roller I I8 is first brought into contact with the rear side of the target at T1 on platform I I4, and the target is then pushed forwardly off the loading platform onto the free end of arm 25. The position of guide H8 is such as also to push the target over against rail 26, as may best be seen in Fig. 14 when the target at T2 is being advanced over the flat top surface of arm by ram IIU.

The stroke of ram H3 is sufiicient to advance the target toward the pivoted end of the throw ing arm to position T1 in which the target is held snugly between leaf spring Ill and rail 26, which is the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position, the target begins to move simultaneously with the throwing arm, and there is no impact of the rail on the throwing arm against the rim of the target which breaks the target frequently, as is the case when the target is loaded to a position in which it is slightly spaced from rail 25. The

stroke of ram IIU can be varied by changing the 18 exactly the position of the target when fully loadedonto arm 25. V

This loading action takse place during the first of revolutionof crank '98 which is the same time that the crank actuates the cocking mechanism. During the second one-half revolution of the crank, the motions of the linkage are reversed and ram H3 is moved rearwardly on rail III to a position at the back of the loading platform where it is again ready to load a target from the platform onto the throwing arm.

Plate I I6 extends across platform 'I I4 and arm 25. As carriage IIU reciprocates, plate II6 clears off any fragments of broken targets or, on the back stroke, any target that has prematurely fallen onto platform H4.

The means for advancing the stack of targets in the magazine is also operated by rotation of crank 33; but in order to obtain the proper timed relation between the advance of the stack and the target loading carriage I I0, the stack is advanced during the second 180 of rotation of crank 98. At the end of each rotation of shaft I3, crank pin 93 stops in engagement with the curved cam surface i32 on the lever I33, the parts being positioned as shown in Fig. 4. The lower end of lever 233 being depressed, bar I23 is advanced. As shaft 78 commences its single revolution, crank pin 99 moves downwardly out of engagement with lever I33 allowing bar I28 to move to the left at Fig. 4 under the force exerted by the spring I33. As the rack bar moves, pawl I43 lifts and rides over one tooth, coming down into the next space. Movement of the rack bar also lifts the lower end of lever I33 so that it is in a position to be engaged by the rounded end of crank pin 39 toward the end of the revolution of shaft l3 and crank 98.

As the crank pin engages the lower curved end of lever I33, it depresses the lower end I32 and rotates lever I33 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 to advance rack bar I28. The bar moves until a tooth engages theend of pawl I43, when further movement of the bar also moves follower I38 for the remainder of the rack bar movement. Since the forward motion of the rack bar terminates at the same point each time, the net advance motion of follower I33 equals the spacing between teeth I36 for each successive actuation of lever I33.

In this manner, follower I33 advances by successive steps, one step for each revolution of crank pin 93. Each step is the equivalent of the net thickness of the target in the stack so that each step advances the entire stack to the end of magazine I2! a sufficient distance that the end target is pushed off the end of the magazine and falls by gravity onto platform IM.

By arranging the stack of targets in a horizontally extending direction, the problem of re moving the end target from the advancing end of the stack is considerably simplified. It is unnecessary to use any mechanical member to separate the end target and remove it from the stack, this being done by gravity. Also it is not necessary to support the entire weight of the stack upon the target at the end or next to the end of the stack as would be the case if the stack were vertical. With a horizontally extending stack, each target rests individually upon angles I26 and I21 so that the weight of the stack is sup ported throughout its length. The pressure aD+ plied by follower I33 is sufficient to move the stack horizontally over angles I26 and I27, and the amount of this pressure is regulated by the 19 friction developed between the targets and the angles. This can be kept sufliciently low that the pressure applied to a stack of targets, numbering one hundred for example, is well within the pressure permitted by the relatively fragile nature of the targets. Another advantage of my form of magazine is that it does not clog or jam if one of the targets is broken in the stack. The fragments are cleared out of the machine and the operational cycle made without throwing a target, but without any adverse effect in subsequent op- 'eration.

When the target at the end of the stack falls from the magazine onto the loading platform to position T1, it rotates through 90 and falls with its greater dimensions parallel to the top surface of platform H4. The pad of sponge rubber N41: is preferably provided to eliminate any chipping of the rim of the target as a result of the fall from the magazine, also to dampen any rebound from the platform.

After the stack of targets has all been discharged onto the loading platform, the magazine may be simply reloaded by lifting pawl I49 clear of rack I36 and manually pulling follower I38 back to the outer end of the magazine. The given number of the targets is then stacked in the magazine, this number being for purposes of illustration one hundred. The length of this stack is then determined and, if bar I28 is adjustable, the bar is rotated to bring uppermost the series of teeth of which the spacing a, b, c, or d, is closest to .61 of the overall length of the stack. In order to ready the magazine for action, the stack is advanced over angles I26 and I2! until the end target is at the end of the magazine, as shown in Fig. 4.

Figs. 17 and 18 show a modified form of my invention employing a variational means for operating clutch I4. The clutch operating rod 84 is eliminated and the clutch is operated instead by solenoid I48 and plunger I49 which bears against handle 88.- When the solenoid is energized to move plunger I49 toward the left as viewed in Figs. 17 and 18, handle 88 is moved counterclockwise by engagement with the plunger. This motion is transmitted through link 81 to cam 82 which withdraws the cam and causes the clutch to engage, in the manner previously described.

Solenoid I48 is actuated by micro-switch I50 which is mounted on a bracket fastened to upper frame bar 20 by bolt 60. The micro-switch carries a horizontally extending, flexible reed I5I which is so located as to be engaged by arm 25 during the period of over-travel. When arm 25 is in the arc of over-travel, as shown in Fig. 17, the arm depresses reed I5I and closes the contacts of the micro-switch. This action closes circuit I52 and energizes the solenoid, as just described. The length of time during which switch IE is closed, can be regulated if desired by changing the position of the switch and the length of reed II; but a very short period of contact is sufiicient to release plunger I49 and cause clutch I4 to engage.

After solenoid I48 is de-energized, plunger I49 is restored to its retracted position by engagement of cam 9| with pin 90 carried by handle 88, cam 82 also being thereby returned to the non-operating position as previously described.

In Figs. 17 and 18 the mechanism has been simplified by removing spring 85.

Except for the changes in the construction of the clutch actuating mechanism just, described,

the construction and operation of the modified form of my invention is the same in all respects as previously set forth.

Having described a preferred embodiment of my invention and certain modifications thereof, it will be apparent that changes therein may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; and therefore I wish it understood that the foregoing description is considered as being illustrative of, rather than limitative upon, the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. In a target throwing trap having a springoperated target throwing member comprising a swinging arm and a rotatable shaft to which the arm is attached, and a cocking mechanism movable independently of the throwing member to set a spring which upon release swings the throwing member in one direction and subsequently swings the throwing member in the other direc tion to return it to a target loading position, the combination comprising: a power source; a continuously driven member operatively connected to the power source; and means engaged by the target throwing member during its swinging movement for causing the driven member to actuate the cocking mechanism.

2. In a target throwing trap having a springoperated target throwing member comprising a swinging arm and a rotatable shaft to which the arm is attached, and a cocking mechanism movable independently of the throwingmember to set a spring which upon release swings the throwing member in one direction and subsequently swings the throwing member in the otherdirection to return it to a target loading position, the combination comprising: a power source; a driven member operatively connected to the power source; and means responsive to return movement of the target throwing member for causing the driven member to actuate the cocking mechanism, including a member engaged by the throwing member near the end of its swing in said other direction.

3. In a target throwing trap having a springoperated target throwing member comprising a swinging arm and a rotatable shaft to which the arm is attached, and a cooking mechanism movable independently of the throwing member to set a spring which upon release swings the throwing member in one direction and subsequently swings the throwing member in the other direction to return it to and past a target loading position, the combination comprising: a power source; drive means operatively connecting thepower source to the cocking mechanism; and means, for rendering the drive means operative-to actuate the cocking mechanism after the throw ing member has been returned past theloading.

position, including a member engaged by the throwing member after being returned past the target loading position.

4.'In a target throwing trap having a springoperated target throwing member comprising a swinging arm and a rotatable shaft to which the.

arm is attached, and a cocking mechanism movable independently of the throwing member to set a spring which upon release swings the throw-. ing member in'one direction and subsequently.

swings the throwing member in the other direction to return it to a target loading position, the combination comprising: a power source}. drive means operatively connected to the cutie;- e echan s c ut h means normally dise'n gaged for drivingly connecting the power source to the drive; means;-and means for engagingthe clutch response to movement, of the target throwing member to actuate the cocking mechanism..

5. A target throwing trap as in claim 4 in which the means for engaging the clutch. is operative after the throwing member has been returned past the loading position.

6. A target throwing trap as in claim 4 in which the means for engaging the clutch includes a cam on the rotatable shaft carrying the swinging arm and a rod extending between the cam and clutch, the cam being shaped to actuate the rod only when the swinging arm has been returned past the loading position.

7. In a target throwing trap having a springoperated target throwing member comprising a swinging arm and a rotatable shaft to which, the arm is' attached, and a cocking mechanisminovable independently of the throwing member to set a spring which upon release swings the throwing member in one direction and subsequently swings the throwing member in the other direction to return it to a target loading position, the combination comprising: a motor; a drive shaft operatively connecting the motor to the cocking mechanism; clutch means for drivingly connecting the motor to the shaft; and means for actuating the clutch in response to movement of the target throwing member.

8., In a target throwing trap having a springoperated target throwing member comprising a swinging arm and a rotatable shaft to which the arm is attached, and a cocking lever adapted to set a spring which upon release swings the throwing member in one direction and subsequently swings the throwing member in the other direction to return it to a target loading position, the combination comprising: a motor; a drive shaft having crank means; a connecting rod operatively connecting the crank means to the cooking lever; single-revolution clutch means for drivingly connecting the motor to the drive shaft; clutch engaging means for engaging said single revolution clutch; and a member connected to the clutch engaging means and engaged by the target throwing member upon rotation of the target throwing member to actuate the clutch engaging means. I

9. In a target throwing trap having a springoperated target throwing member comprising a swinging arm and a rotatable shaft to which the arm is attached, and a spring which upon release swings the throwing member in one direction and subsequently swings the throwing member in the other direction to return it to and past a target loading position, the combination comprising: a loading platform adjacent the free end of the swinging arm when the arm is in loading position from which platform targets are placed onto the throwing arm; a substantially horizontally extending magazine adapted to hold a plurality of targets in a horizontal stack with one end adjacent the platform; means for ad.. vancing the stack lengthwise by steps substantially equal to the thickness of a single target; a power source; drive means operatively connecting the power source to the stack advancing means; and means for rendering the drive means operative including an actuating member engaged by the throwing member after the throwing member has been returned past the loading position to actuate the stack advancing means.

10. In a target throwing trap having a springoperated target throwing member comprising a swinging arm and a rotatable. shaft to. which the arm is attached, and a cocking mechanism adapted to set a spring connected to the throwa ing member and which upon release swings the throwing member in one direction and subsequently swings the throwing member inthe other direction to return it to and past a target loading position, the combination comp-rising: a loading platform adjacent the free end of the swinging arm when the arm is in loading position; reciprocating means for loading a target onto the arm from the platform; a power source; drive means operatively connecting the power source to the reciprocating means and to, the cocking mechanism; and a member engaged by the target throwing member during said swinging movement of the target throwing member for causing the drive means to actuate the reciprocatin means and the, cocking mechanism.

11 In a target throwing trap, having a, springoperated target throwing, member comprising a swinging arm and a rotatable shaft to which the arm is attached, and a cooking mechanism adapted to set a spring connected to the throwing member and which upon release swings. the throwing member in one direction and subsequently swings the throwing member in the other direction to return it to, and past a target loading position, the combination comprising: a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of targets in a substantially horizontally extending stack; means for advancing the stack by successive steps to eject targets one at a time from the magazine; a power source, drive means operatively connecting the power source to the stack advancing means and to the cocking mechanism; and a member engaged by the target throwing member during said swinging movement of the target throwing member for causing the drive means to actuate the stack advancing means and the cooking mechanism.

12. In a target throwing trap having a springoperated target throwing member comprising a swinging arm and a rotatable shaft to which the arm is attached, and a cocking mechanism adapted to set a spring connected to the throwing member and which upon release swings the throwing member in one direction and subsequently swings the throwing member in the other direction to return it to and past a target loading position, the combination comprising: a loading platform adjacent the free end of the swinging arm when the arm is in loading position; reciprocating means for loading a target onto the arm from the platform; a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of targets in a substantially horizontally extending stack; means for advancing the stack by successive steps to deposit targets one at a time on the loading platform; a power source; drive means operatively connecting the power source to the stack advancing means, to the reciprocating means, and to the cooking mechanism; and a member engaged by the target throwing member during said swinging movement of the target throwing member for causing the drive means to actuate the stack advancing means, the reciprocating means, and the cooking mechanism.

13. In a target throwing trap having a springoperated target throwing member comprising a swinging arm and a rotatable shaft to which the arm is attached, and a spring which upon release swings the throwing member in one direction and 23 subsequently swings the throwing member in the other direction to return it to and past a target loading position, the combination comprising: a loading platform adjacent the free end of the swinging arm when the arm is in loading position from which platform targets are placed onto the throwing arm; a substantially horizontally extending magazine adapted to hold a plurality of targets in a horizontal stack with one end adjacent the platform; means for advancing the stack lengthwise by steps substantially equal to the thickness of a single target; a power source; drive means operatively connecting the power source to the stack advancing means; and means for rendering the drive means operative after the throwing member has been returned past the loading position to actuate the stack advancing means; said stack advancing means including a longitudinally and rotationally movable bar having a plurality of separate, longitudinally extending racks of diiferent tooth spacing selectively engageable by a stack advancing member to regulate the size of the step by which the stack is advanced.

14. In a target throwing trap having a springoperated target throwing member comprising a swinging arm and a rotatable shaft to which the arm is attached, and a cocking mechanism adapted to set a spring connected to the throwing member and which upon release swings the throwing member in one direction and subsequently swings the throwing member in the other direction to return it to and past a target loading position, the combination comprising: a loading platform adjacent the free end of the swinging arm when the arm is in loading position; reciprocating means for loading a target onto the arm from the platform; a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of targets in a substantially horizontally extending stack; means for advancing the stack by successive steps to deposit targets one at a time on the loading platform; a power source; drive means operatively connecting the power source to the stack advancing means, to the reciprocating means, and t the cooking mechanism, said drive means including a rotating element that simultaneously actuates the cooking mechanism and the reciprocating means and subsequently advances the stack of targets; and means responsive to movement of the target throwing member for causing the drive means to actuate the stack advancing means, the reciprocating means, and the cooking mechanism.

JOHN K. LYON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 525,640 Wildhack Sept. 4, 1894 624,044 Jenkins May 2, 1899 2,504,437 McEWen Apr. 18, 1950 2,531,613 Darrell Nov. 28, 1956 

